Stephen McManus looks set for Riverside return

Bristol City loan signing Stephen McManus appears certain to return to Middlesbrough on January 17.

The Scottish defender's 93-day loan spell with the Championship strugglers has exactly one week to run and, as yet, Robins boss Derek Mcinnes has not tabled a permanent offer.

McInnes is instead targeting younger targets and, having lost out on Manchester United centre-back Scott Wootton to Championship rivals Peterborough United, has made an offer for Crawley Town defender Kyle McFadzean.

As things currently stand, McManus is set to play his last game in a City shirt against Leicester at Ashton Gate this Saturday.

McManus's Boro contract ends in the summer and with no prospect of extending his stay on Teesside, he's keen to resolve his long-term future. But unless McInnes comes up with an offer, he will return to the Riverside next Thursday.

Boro refused the 30-year-old permission to play in the FA Cup last Saturday, which suggests the club expect him to him to return and compete for a first team place.

Boro boss Tony Mowbray said: "At this moment in time, if Stephen's due back on the 17th, he'll be back on the 17th.

"Bristol will have to make contact if they want something to happen. We're not chasing them, so let's wait and see."